This weeks topic on ‘Hip Hop Buzz’ I explore what has the blogs, websites and news that is hip hop related going crazy. This week it is RnB singer Ray J’s new song “I hit it first” in reference to his ex girlfriend Kim Kardashian.

The singer, who used to date the seductress model, dated Kim for three years. They are both best known for the sex tape that leaked of both of them in 2007. Kim Kardashian took a ‘negative’ and sensibly profited from the miss-hap and, according to celebritynetworth.com, is currently now worth an estimated $40m and makes $80,000 per ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ episode.

Not bad for a girl who famous just for being famous.

Since the sex tape Ray J’s career hasn’t taken a turning for the better. Ok, let’s not be harsh. From his fourth album All I Feel, released in 2008, which features The Game and Yung Berg among others. The album’s first single is “Sexy Can I” featuring rapper Yung Berg peaked at number three on the Top Singles (Hot 100) for six weeks. But that’s pretty much it.

Currently dating hip-hop rapper, Kanye West, Kardashian is expecting her first child with him. Which seemed not to sit well with Ray J, as he went out his way to make a song, have the album cover of a pixilated Kim Kardashian and do a music video with look a-likes.

Ray J takes digs at Kim in the song, insinuating that he made the Kardashian’s famous. Despite Kanye impregnating Kris Humphries wife, Kim was married for 72 days and still isn’t divorced, Kanye hasn’t made a statement on the matter.

This is the most attention Ray J’s music career has had in years. Kim is married to an athlete, having a baby by a rapper and an ex boyfriend who won’t let the past go…

The Urban music world is mourning today as confirmation that Chris “MacDaddy” Kelly has died. He was found on Wednesday evening unconscious and pronounced dead at 5:30pm on 1st May at the Atlanta Medical Center. Kelly had been using a combination of cocaine and heroin the night before his death, according to the police report obtained by TMZ.

Kelly who was one half of the 90’s group ‘Kriss Kross’ rose to fame with Chris “Daddy Mac” Smith when they were discovered at 12 years old in an Atlanta mall by 18 year old producer, Jermaine Dupri.

They took the world by storm by having an original fashion statement by wearing their clothes back to front, which was and is their trademark. Also, they had major success with their hit song “Jump” from their multiplatinum 1992 debut album “Totally Krossed Out.”

The duo surprisingly had maturity in their raps, despite Dupri writing their songs. They toured with Michael Jackson, appeared on TV shows, and had their own video game.

Dupree wrote an emotional letter about Kelly’s death and posted it on his blog, global 14.

Chris’ mother, Donna Kelly Pratte, released a statement:

“it is with deep sadness that we announce that our beloved Chris Kelly has passed away on May 1. To millions of fans worldwide, he was the trendsetting, backwards pants-wearing one-half of Kris Kross who loved making music. But to us, he was just Chris – the kind, generous and fun-loving life of the party. Though he was only with us a short time, we feel blessed to have been able to share some incredible moments with him. His legacy will live on through his music, and we will forever love him.”

There has been no message from Chris Smith but social networking sites have been bombarded with messages of condolences from celebrities and fans:

“I’m wearing my clothes to work backwards tomorrow,” Michael Skolnik, editor in chief of the hip hop site Global Grind said, when he learned of the death.

Da Brat who was on the same label as Kriss Kross and reunited with them in February for the celebration of 20 year running of So So Def, wrote:

“REST IN PEACE TO MY LIL BRO CHRIS KELLY OF KRIS KROSS. Dam wasn’t we JUST at rehearsal and doing a So So Def20 show?”

Kriss Kross gave many urban music lovers memories. For many, his death is…wiggity, wiggity WACK.

Kriss Kross ‘Jump’ video:

]]>https://hearingpeace.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/breaking-news-kriss-kross-chris-kelly-dies-at-age-34-in-atlanta-2/feed/0hearpeaceChris KellyKriss KrossTOP 10 ANTICIPATED HIP HOP ALBUMS FOR 2013https://hearingpeace.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/top-10-anticipated-hip-hop-albums-for-2013/
https://hearingpeace.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/top-10-anticipated-hip-hop-albums-for-2013/#respondThu, 02 May 2013 11:10:56 +0000http://hearingpeace.wordpress.com/?p=67As 2012 is in our rear –view mirror and the quarter of this year is through, it is time to look ahead and see what is installed for hip Hop fanatics. Our top ten most anticipated albums of 2013 are…

Q-Tip – ‘The Last Zulu’

The leading member of A Tribe Called Quest joined G.O.O.D Music last year and is gearing up for his first album in five years. Q-Tip’s last solo disc in 2008, The Renaissance, took 10 years to arrive. Thankfully, we won’t have to wait that long for a new set.

Q-Tip is hoping to reunite his old group members for his upcoming fourth solo album. “Hopefully, Phife Dog and Ali Shaheed Muhammad will make an appearance on it, and Jarobi,” Tip said to MTV’s RapFix.

Tentatively penciled for summer, The Last Zulu will feature Marsha Ambrosius, Kendrick Lamar, and Fiona Apple.

Kendrick Lamar and J Cole – ‘TBA’

These two artists, who are arguable the top young rappers, have taken the industry by storm. They are colliding together to give us a mix tape. Their energy and message are largely similar, which will undoubtedly prove an asset in the studio.

The two friends have long-planned to drop a collaboration project, Cole assures that both rappers will on their lyrical A-games and friendly competition.

“It’s mad competitive. It has to be, because we both love it. We’re not gonna speak about it, it’s not gonna be like, ‘Yo man I killed you,’ ” Cole said at the 2013 NBA All-Star weekend.

The album is ready before the year is done.

GOOD Music – ‘Cruel Winter’

Let’s face it, we all loved Cruel Summer and knowing that the sequel, Cruel Winter, is to be released this year is too much of a anticipation.

Kanye is known to conjure something magical when slightly inspired, there is confirmation that Pusha T and Q-Tip will be on the album, what the sound will be like is unimaginable and the lyrical content with such artists will definitely be mind blowing.

Ironically, Cruel Winter will drop in the summer.

Jay Electronica – ‘Act II: Patents Of Nobility (The Turn)’

Jay Electronica tweeted a track list last summer, which included features by Jay-Z, Kanye West, Diddy, and the mother of his child Erykah Badu, which is usually a sign that an album does exist. So that’s a start…

The album is “really close” according to Jay-Z for MTVNews in February, and further commented saying, “It’s exactly what it should be – it’s amazing. Him as a lyricist is almost scary. He’s scary good.“

We’re ready when you are, Electronica.

Earl Sweatshirt – ‘Doris’

The somber, black-and-white video for Chum hints at the teenage angst we can expect on Earl Sweatshirt’s album, Doris. Sweatshirt will be attempting a tricky task—crafting an album that will appeal to a broader audience without completely alienating avid Odd Future fans. The good news is that he has the creative skill set to pull it off.

The poet has had contributions on fellow Odd Future member, Tyler the Creator’s, albums.

Frank Ocean, Pharrell, and Alchemist are expected to contribute.

Jay-Z – ‘TBA’

In 2011 Jigga teamed up with Kanye West to deliver Watch The Throne-an excellent record that had Jay-Z sounding more crucial on the microphone than he had in years.

Although he didn’t release a project in 2012, he has had experiences happen that will surely influence his music, such as; his Made In America festival, his eight shows to open the Barclays Center, and even his performance in a rally for President Barack Obama. Not to mention he hopped on a few tracks like Rick Ross’ “3 Kings” and G.O.O.D. Music’s “Clique.”

But the biggest life change he’s gone through this year has been the birth of his daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. So we’re expecting his upcoming album to be a storm. His engineer, Young Guru, claims the album title is genius-to continue to showcase Hov’s immaculate rhyming but to also internalize fatherhood.

Hov’s been in the studio with Q-Tip, Jahlil Beats, and Pharrell

Action Bronson – ‘Saab Stories’

Indefatigable rapper from Queens, Action Bronson, is teaming up with Brooklyn producer Harry Fraud for Saab Stories, the first of many installments Fraud likens to “books.” They’ve already recorded enough material for two projects. Bronson who’s flow and sound is a reminder of the 80’s old school hip hop is surely to be excited for his musical project.

Azealia Banks – ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’

Now that Azealia Banks is over the buzz of being a new artist, we’re ready to peep her progress. Last year, Banks dropped two projects: 1991 (EP) and Fantasea (mixtape). Her skill set is undeniable. What remains to be seen is how that will translate to an album. “I have ALOT of REALLY exciting ish happening in between! It will ALL make sense as these things start to unravel.” She tweeted last month.

Fingers crossed Azelia.

Schoolboy Q – ‘Oxymoron

Last year, Schoolboy Q dropped the brilliant Habits & Contradictions. Habits hit shelves in January, kicking off what would eventually become a Black Hippy year.

”Kendrick left me no choice but to drop a classic,” Q said last November in an interview with Esteban Serrano. That competitive spirit should spur him on to some success on his Interscope debut, Oxymoron.

Raekwon – ‘FILA’

Raekwon could barely wait for the new year to begin before sharing the title of his sixth solo album. F.I.L.A. (Fly International Luxurious Art.) The album is to be released in Autumn also, apparently, Raekwon is already thinking ahead to his next LP, the third installment of his Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. Chances we’ll get both this year? I doubt.

We will be nail bitting with excitement to hear the albums but until them…

The day finally came. I have been waiting to see Teedra Moses for eight months since not being to get tickets prior. The location was at London’s Jazz Cafe on the 3rd March.

For those of you that have been to The Jazz Cafe will know that it’s an intimate location, more so it’s as if you can smell the artist on stage.

The opening act was a young fellow names Nathan Adams, which reminded me of Dwele because of the soul that was in his music. Him and his band performed soul house music.

Teedra, Teedra, Teedra, where do I begin, a true pioneer with her craft. She performed the old and the new, which all was music to our ears. Drinking Courvoisier Cognac straight from the bottle during her performance, she made the crowd feel at ease with the stories she was sharing- how she bought cheap weave in London and got her protoje to come on stage and brush her hair. Pretty sure she was somewhat tipsy, her voice was pitch perfect, in fact I preferred her live performance with her band to her sound on the album because you were able to see her wear her heart on her sleeve whilst performing.

She announced that she will be performing in London in 2014, at the venue XOYO in Old Street, guaranteed to catch me there. She is currently in Miami now continuing her tour, so anyone thats there I would recommend that you go and check her out.